Can-opener.



W. C. KLITZING.

CAN OPENER.

APPUCATION FILED JULY 30, 1915.

1 ,1 86,800. Patented June 13, 1916.

flfi

WC. (htza'y r proved receptacle opening device,

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 30, 1915. Serial No. 42,778.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, VVAL'rnR C. KLITZING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altamont, in the county of Efiingham and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gan-Openers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i i

This invention relates to combined jar andcan openers and is particularly directed to devices for applying or removing the screw tops of fruit jars andthe like, or for opening hermetically sealed cans.

It is the object of the present invention to provide such a device including gripping means for the can or receptacle, and grip ping means for the screw cap thereof which are actuated by suitable hand grips whereby the cover may be readily turned, and which are normally held in an extended or open position to facilitate the application of the device to a receptacle.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide on the top-gripping elements suitable cutting means by which a can or the like may be conveniently opened, said means being adjustable with the top gripping elements to accommodate cans of various sizes.

It is more specifically the object to provide such a device comprising a relatively simple structure, and which may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

\Vith the above and other objects and advantages in View, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts as more fully described hereinafterand pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the imapplied on a fruit jar of conventional type, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown, Fig. 3 is an end View of the device in position to open a can parts being broken away. Fig. l is a perspective view of that portion of the device including the top gripping and can cutting elements.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing,

ing or the device comprises a U-1 shaped member 5 formed of spring metal and'adapted to embrace the top portion of a can or receptacle 6, and having formed at the free ends of the arms transverse jaw members 7, for frictionally gripping the receptacle. A smaller U-shaped spring memher 8 18 provided adapted to move within the member 5 and swivelly connected thereto by a pm 9 extending from its bight portion and engaged in an opening 10 in the bight portion of the member 5, this pin being held in the opening by a suitable head 11 on its free end, and the free ends of the arms of this member 8 are provided with jaws 13 adapted to grip the screw cap ll of the receptacle.

Depending from the underside of each of the aws 13 is a substantially V-shaped cutter 13, these cutters, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, being adapted for insertion into the top of a can 6 and operable to cut the same as will be presently explained.

For frictionally clamping the jaws 7 and 13 to the receptacle and top respectively, and at the same time to provide a grip whereby the jaws 13 may be relatively moved to unscrew the cap, a pair of handle members 15 areprovided and intermediately pivoted to-- gether at 16 in crossed relation with adja cent ends secured at the juncture of the jaws 7 and the U-shaped portion 5, and a similarly connected pair of handle members 17 are provided with adjacent ends secured to the junctures of the jaws 13 and the U- shaped portion 5.

In the operation of the device for removapplying screw tops and the like,

placed over a receptacle and the outer ends of the pairs of handles are gripped to clamp the jaws to the top and to the receptacle, and the pairs of handles are then turned in opposite directions to unscrew the cap, an efficient grip being had thus of'both the cap and receptacle. As the U-shaped members are resilient in nature, the jaws are normally held in extended position to facilitate the application of the device. WVhen it vice as a can opener, the jaws 7 are manipulated to grip the can and the jaws 13 adapted by means of the handles 17 to properly position the cutters 13 with relation to the can top. These cutters 13 are then forced into the can and the handles relation to the handles 15, the cutters being thus rotated to sever the top.

same is Patented June 13, 1916. i

is desired to employ the de- 17 turned with prising a pair of jaw members adapted to members.

relatively movable members swivelly conon said relatively, movable, members and means for actuating said aw What is claimed is: I 1. An opener of the class described comeach of the U-shaped members and independently responding pairs of movable members.

l. ,An opener of the classdescribed comprising a U-shaped member ing in'its bight, a smaller U-shaped member, a pin on the bight of said members swiveled in, said opening, relatively movable can opening elements carried by the free ends of the arms of each U-shapedmember, and a pair of crossed intermediately pivoted handles operatively engaging each of said U- shaped members.

In testimony whereof, I my; signature, in the presence of two WltIIGSSBS' WALTER C. KLITZING.

clamp the bodyjof a receptacle, relatively movable members movably connected with saidjaw members for opening the top of the. receptacle and 'means' for actuating said of the class described, com- 2. An opener of jaw members, a pair of prising a pair nected to said jaw members, cutters formed members and cutters;

3. An openerfof the class described comprising a u-shapedmember, a second U- V shaped member svvivelly connected to the bight of the first-mentioned member and rotatable between the arms thereof, relatively Witnesses v Gno. H. KLITZING, CHAS. E. ELLIS.-

copiel of thin patent may be obtaineditor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner. at mm,

I a Washington, I). (2."

movable members carried at the free ends of operable means for actuating cor- V l 7 having an open- 7 

